Participating in a student group, club, or organization is not a mandatory but an important part of the college experience. If you are looking for a chance to interact, socialize, and take part in various activities, this is the option just for you. Surely, academic achievements stand first but some quality time spent with your peers and some great benefits that we will talk about in this article are definitely very important to acknowledge. Let’s look at some of the best benefits of joining student organizations and clubs.
Make New Friends
If you are feeling a bit lonely in college and would love to meet new people, clubs are a great place to go for that. Student groups and organizations surely help connect students and join them together. Various activities and games, events, and competitions also help you learn about other people’s interests and talents which also helps a lot in communication and further interaction. Participating in a student group or joining a club is a great opportunity to meet new individuals who have interests and passions that are similar to your own.
Networking is another important factor. Long-lasting connections might be very beneficial for your future, that’s why meeting new people is what you should not underestimate. Moreover, communication is crucial for your self-development and personal growth.
Acquire New Skills
Surely, when you join a club, you want it to teach you something new and important. One of the best things about being in an organization, community, club, or group is an opportunity to learn a lot of new things and improve your existing skills. For example, leadership or teamwork, communication skills, time management, finances, logic, and critical thinking – all of these skills can be boosted in various ways, one of which is joining an organization. It also allows you to work on your self-discipline which is great for your personal growth.
Boost Your Resume
Companies are interested in applicants with experience. But even if you haven’t worked before, you can easily add a few details to your resume in case you joined a student organization. That is because the experience you get in there is what many companies really appreciate, for example, soft skills, project work, etc. Joining a club will surely help you boost your resume and will let you stand out.
Surely, you might think that being in a club means something to your future employer only if you were a leader there. But actually being a regular member is also very beneficial because it shows your pro-active position, the ability to work in a team and strive for achieving a common goal. That is what makes your experience very attractive to recruiters.
Making a Change
Many student organizations help communities by volunteering or organizing various events, campaigns, etc. It is a great opportunity to be helpful and give something to the world around you. If you were interested in volunteering, joining a student organization might be a perfect choice as it will help you understand how every part of the process works. You will also join a team where you can get help and proper coaching in order to be a great volunteer.
You can also be helpful to your learning institution as many student organizations work to make student life on campus more colorful and comfortable. If this is something that you would really enjoy or even make into your future career, trying out this type of activity in a group is a great starting point.
Become a Part
The feeling of belonging is crucial for many of us. We might not understand that but on some level, we all strive to be in a group of people with the same ideology, interests, or likings. Becoming a part of something bigger and more important is great because it helps you feel needed and appreciated.
That’s why joining an organization might be exactly what you need in order to feel more involved or less lonely. Moreover, being in a group means that you can try yourself in various spheres. Depending on your personality traits you can choose the role in the group that you like the most. For example, you can be a secretary, activities director, etc. This might really help you understand what you are really good at.
Have a Different College Experience
Many former college students regret not being that much included in the community though at the moment it was not their sphere of interest. Some of the most important benefits of joining a group or student organization are to experience various sides of college life – where you can choose from offered options and decide what is good for you.
Surely, group meetings and such activities might be not for everyone. But you might try it out and fall in love with it. The college experience is all about being open to new opportunities. Eventually, you can always leave the group after you find out it’s not what you need.
Receive Help
Being in a group means getting help when you really need it. Other students in your organization might give you great advice on your academic assignment or provide you with the mental support that you really need. Anyways, it’s surely great when you are not alone and can address your problems freely. Moreover, student organizations help spread awareness of various mental issues or community problems which also helps a lot.
You should also remember that college counselors are there to help you when you experience any kind of difficulties and problems, including your mental health.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, being involved in a student organization, whether it be a group or club, is an excellent way to boost one’s personal as well as professional growth. It presents you with the opportunity to increase your skill set and meet a lot of new people. Student organizations are very different and provide different kinds of experiences that’s why it’s important to choose the one that really stands out to you.
Karen Palmer
